Pivot cups - how important are they?

[jaytoo]

One thing I don't hear much about is people changing out pivot cups. I wanted to know how important the pivot cup is for the feel of the truck -

What are the benefits of a soft vs.hard pivot cup?
How does say, a khiro pivot cup feel vs. stock vs. DIY tube pivot?
At what point (if ever) should you change your pivot cup?
Spherical pivots? Huh?

Personally, I'm more interested in these characteristics for Randal-style trucks, but If you've got some expertise with conventional trucks as well, please share.

[Petary791]

I'm wondering too, subscribed.

[Bomb303]

Soft feels a little stickier and wears down faster.

I usually change my pivots just when they start getting sloppy, or have noticeable wear. Ive only changed pivots in two sets of trucks, and I have skated both of them for 2 years now.

Vinyl tubing is a good replacement for pivot cups, feels less sticky than your average khiro pivot cup IMO, and is cheap, or free at a hardware store.

I wouldnt use the tubing in indy style trucks though because of they way the pivot moves when you turn, and the lack of support for the top of the pivot, though Ive never actually tried it.

[keziahlongboards]

agreed with bomb above me on everything. Pivot cups are really important and overlooked. IMO it is cheaper and just as easy to go get the tubing and make it feel killer.

-worn down pivot cups make trucks sloppy.
-replacing pivot cups with new ones/khiros makes them feel like new again.
-Replacing with tubing makes them lean smoother than when they were new
Make sure you get braided vinyl tubing in the correct size.
-I've also know people to get delrin rod and somehow make it work... not worth it

[Bookworm]

pivot cups help keep trucks slop-free. my crails have beat to hell pivots, but nice snug bushing seats so as long as they're not too loose they're slop free because the bushings keep the hangar snugly against the kingpin, but if they get too loose, they get REALLY REALLY sloppy.

[LFP123]

tube pivots are dope, such a nice smooth lean

[jbrandona119]

So should I try the tube pivots on my hybrid indys?

sounds interesting...

[keziahlongboards]

No on the indys. It only works on reverse kingpin trucks. On traditional style (indys) the ball of the pivot is pressing down into the cup and would thus scrape the metal in your baseplate at the bottom of the tube you cut. Sorry man

[jbrandona119]

No on the indys. It only works on reverse kingpin trucks. On traditional style (indys) the ball of the pivot is pressing down into the cup and would thus scrape the metal in your baseplate at the bottom of the tube you cut. Sorry man

it's fine. I'll see if my bro will let me try it on his Randals on his Super Model...when he gets it